Americas Best Value Inn

Thursday, July 19, 2018

Kogi Government React After Senator Melaye's Constituency Projects Were Burnt Down In Lokoja

After arsonists burnt down four of the constituency projects of Senator Dino Melaye, the Kogi state government has reacted.

Dino Melaye

The Kogi State government has condemned the burning of four of the
constituency projects of Senator Dino Melaye in Lokoja, the state
capital by some arsonists due for commissioning Wednesday.

This was made public by the Director General, Media and Publicity
to the state governor, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo who spoke on behalf of the
government during an assessment tour of the burnt projects also said the
state government has directed security operatives to fish out the
arsonists.

The four constituency projects which are four blocks of classrooms
each at Government Girls Secondary School, Sarkin Noma; Lokongoma
Secondary School, Phase 1 and Adankolo Secondary school all in Lokoja.

Fanwo who spoke at the Government Girls Secondary School, Sarkin Noma said, “Government
condemns the incident. Education is the leading thematic area of the
state government and so will not allow any elements to derail it.

“Irrespective of who is doing the projects, the fund is from
the government. So, whether it is the executive or legislative, such
projects should rather be applauded and not destroyed.

“We have directed the security operatives to access the
situation, get to the root of the matter, unravelled the perpetrators
and bring the culprits to book.

“Government will take a decisive action to ensure that the arsonists do not go scot-free.” He assured.

The state Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Rosemary Osikoya who was
amongst the government officials that visited the sites said the
government will not fold her arms until the perpetrators are fished out.

“Exams are ongoing and these buildings have been used since
January 2018. We expect that people will respect the sanctity of
education.

“This act is masterminded and not accidental. The buildings
were burnt including the chairs. If not for the intervention of some
serving Corps members that put out the flame it would have been worse
than this.

“We appeal to everybody to collaborate with us in education and
not use it as a meeting point for political sabotage. This is a dastard
act; the state interest should be paramount rather than the individual
political ego.

The State Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations,
Mr. Monday Kuryas, who was also at hand, narrated that the hoodlums
forced their way into the buildings.

He said the acts were premeditated as the arsonists with tyres in
their possession burnt the building and damaged some other structures.

He said the police is already investigating the matter and will soon apprehend the arsonists.

The projects damaged were due for commissioning by the senator yesterday as part of his legacy projects at the Senate.

In a swift reaction, Senator Dino Melaye said he had earlier
received threat messages by some political thugs who said he should not
come to Lokoja the state capital to commission any project because he
had defaced the state with his unbridled behaviour as a senator.